Chronicle/Darren BreenSteve Sutherlind listens during chapel at the Muskegon Rescue Mission at 400 W. Laketon. The mission provides a chapel service in addition to food and shelter. The mission has launched an effort to rebuild its men’s shelter. The $2 million renovation will serve the community for decades to come, said Executive Director Carl Skoglund.When it comes to poverty and homelessness in the Muskegon area, there’s always a need.

BY THE NUMBERS

Muskegon Rescue Mission

• Meals served: 2006, 57,548; 2008, 62,038

• Average meals per day: 2006, 157; 2008, 170

• Nights of lodging: 2006, 27,480; 2008, 28,049

• Average daily occupancy: 2006, 75; 2008, 77

So even though the Muskegon Rescue Mission has launched a project to rebuild its men’s shelter at 400 W. Laketon during some of the most difficult economic times in recent history, the $2 million men’s shelter upgrade will serve the community for decades to come.

“The minute we help one, two or three more people come through the door,” said Muskegon Rescue Mission Executive Director Carl Skoglund. “For the future, we need a building that is able to serve.”

The Christian-based organization dedicated to serving the needy and the homeless in Muskegon since 1907 needs more capacity at its men’s facility and more space for mission programs. The Rescue Mission also operates a women’s and children’s shelter at 1691 Peck.

Chronicle/Darren BreenBob
Peacock prays during the chapel service at the Muskegon Rescue Mission.
"I was lucky to get this" because he said he was unable to find an
opening at missions in Grand Rapids.The reconstruction of the men’s shelter will reuse a small portion of the existing multi-floor building but the new 18,425-square-foot facility will be on one level.

Construction is expected to begin in April with the facility completed by the end of the year. The general contractor is Gary Post of Port City Construction and Development Services LLC in Muskegon and the architect C. Richard Borgeson of Muskegon.

The current 44 men’s shelter beds will expand to 64 with an additional six beds for “after care” and 14 beds for the mission’s discipleship program. Another 62 beds will remain in the women’s and children’s facility.

“Our men’s facility is multi-level and old ... it’s just a beast,” Skoglund said. “We have had constant repairs and upgrades to the old facility.”

The private, nonprofit Muskegon Rescue Mission still needs to raise about $200,000 for the building project, Skoglund said.

Besides private contributions, the men’s facility upgrades are being financed by a $750,000 federal grant through Fifth Third Bank by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis. Any needed mortgage financing for the project would be through Fifth Third Bank, Skoglund said.

The men’s shelter building has been used by the Muskegon Rescue Mission since the 1970s and includes the men’s overnight beds, food service operations and community pantry. Prior to the Rescue Mission, the building had been home to the Lakeshore Machinery & Supply Co. and Langlois Appliance.

Chronicle/Darren BreenAllen
Smith of Iowa, right, is checked into the Muskegon Rescue Mission at
400 W. Laketon by Supervisor Richard Brazil. "I've heard it from almost
every guy that they enjoy the chapel service," Brazil said, and that
"some guys only really come down for the chapel service."The newly designed facility will have three separate areas: a public section, the traditional shelter and an “after care” area for special programs. Specifically, the facility will have a chapel for up to 100, a two-section dining area for more than 100 with an outdoor patio, a lounge for 45 and a 28-seat classroom.

“It will no longer be an eyesore in the community,” Skogland said of the current men’s facility. “We will have a nice lawn and a parking area. This is something that we have worked on for some time.”

Chronicle/Darren BreenShawn
Sheeley relaxes on his mattress under a cross at the Muskegon Rescue
Mission. Reverend Joe Galy, manager of the men's shelter, said in
winter the mission regularly exceeds the sleeping capacity, forcing
some to sleep on the floor in the auditorium.
Besides providing a bed and a warm meal for residents, the Muskegon Rescue Mission has nearly 15 programs that focus on the Christian-based philosophy of providing the four “Rs” — rescue, redeem, restore and rebuild.

The mission has a long-term rehabilitation program in which participants over nine to 12 months learn life skills, deal with substance abuses, find meaningful work, learn financial management and get in touch with their spirituality. A discipleship program that now houses eight men will expand to 14 beds as participants become connected with the church of their choice.

“As we work with men, we can get them to change their lives permanently and put them on a sound foundation,” Skoglund said. “It is more than just about a roof over someone’s head. They need to be responsible for their own actions and become independent.”

The Muskegon Rescue Mission employs 45 — including those at two retail thrift stores at 2019 E. Apple and 1639 W. Sherman — with an annual operating budget of about $2 million. The organization, which is nondenominational but is associated with dozens of Muskegon area churches, operates with 300 volunteers.

The mission is a member of both the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, which provides audits of its member organizations.